Last year, Woodbury High School pole vaulter Alexis Gligor set the Gloucester County Championship record with a throw of 10 feet, 1 inch.

Her record could be in jeopardy, as Clearview’s Christina Kursewicz hit 10-6 twice at the end of last season — at the Group IV state meet and the Meet of Champions — and she has her eyes set on a higher mark this season.

“I’m hoping to jump at least 11-6 this season,” said Kursewicz. “Over the summer I jumped 11 feet in practice so I fell pretty confident I can do it.”

Kursewicz wasn’t able to get her training started as early as she usually does this offseason.

“She had a problem with her knee, but she’s about ready to come back now,” said Clearview head coach Tom Hengel. “I expect her to be able to compete well and make it (to the Meet of Champions) again. She was one of the better jumpers in South Jersey last year and I don’t really think with that event it’s as much about condition as it is technique. I expect her to have a very good year.”

“I had tendonitis in my knee and a small tear in the patella tendon and bursitis,” Kursewicz added. “I’ve been in physical therapy for about a month. I’ve been trying to keep my upper body strength so I can go back to it pretty fast.”

The pole vault was only added to girls track and field five years ago, but the sport has taken off in recent years. Records are constantly being broken, with higher jumps being recorded constantly.

“I think it’s that the pole vault is really new,” said Hengel. “Its only been around five years. As a couple of people got into it and had success, other kids wanted to give it a try. It will continue to get better.

“We’re lucky that we have a couple of kids that were gymnast before. I think that event is going to evolve a little bit more, I think it’s the event that will take off. It’s becoming more popular, and it’ll provide better competition.”

That path is exactly what led Kursewicz to the sport.

“I was a gymnast for 10 years,” said Kursewicz. “A couple of my teammates went to (pole vaulting) and it came pretty easy to them so I wanted to try it myself.”

With the increase in popularity, staying ahead of the competition won’t be easy for the Pioneer star.

“I’m expecting more girls will keep trying it and as they figure out the technique everyone will continue to raise the height,” Kursewicz said.

One of the vaulters to challenge her could be Delsea’s Alexis Brown. Brown’s jumps were down this past winter during the indoor track season, but she was still able to place high at sectionals.

“Indoor is a completely different kind of beast,” said Brangan. “When you get into the spring you have much more time to practice. She’s doing fine, she should be back in the (nine feet range) anytime now.

“She’s not a person that gets down, she still placed second in South Jersey Group I. She knows what she needs to do, and she trains hard. No doubt she will get to where she needs to be.”

A lot of her success can be attributed to her pole vault coach.

“We have a really good pole vault coach in Dave Harris,” said Brangan. “Now girls are going eight or nine feet as opposed to five or six being good.

“If you can find the talent, like a good gymnast, you are going to have more luck. The girls want to try it and have fun with it, it can be an exciting event for them.”